Fifa president Sepp Blatter has apologised for his comments that homosexual
supporters should "refrain from any sexual activities" during the
2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Blatter said he was sorry if anyone was offended by his remarks made earlier this week in in Johannesburg at the launch of a post-2010 World Cup legacy project.

"It was not my intention and never will be my intention to go into any discrimination," Blatter said in Abu Dhabi where the Club World Cup is taking place. "This is exactly what we are against. If somebody feels that they have been hurt, then I regret it and present apologies."

Blatter's comment prompted a leading international gay rights group to demand an official apology from Fifa.

Juris Lavrikovs, communications director for the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, said the comments were "very unfortunate and have left people deeply offended" and said "we are talking about a very basic human right that is being violated".

Lavrikovs said that Qatar and more than 70 other countries in the world still criminalise individuals for homosexual relationships, and some countries even punish them by death sentence.

Qatar beat USA, Australia, Japan and South Korea in the race to host the World Cup in 2022.

Apart from the searing temperatures expected during the finals time of June and July, there could also be other problems with hosting the competition in an Islamic country.

Current laws mean drinking alcohol in public is forbidden, while bars and nightclubs are almost non-existent. Another issue could be public affection, and gay groups fear problems in a country where homosexuality is illegal.

When asked about such issues earlier this week, Blatter, apparently joking, said: "I would say they should refrain from any sexual activities."

Herman Ouseley, chairman of Kick It Out, a British campaign group for equality and inclusion in football, said earlier this week that he expected better from someone in Blatter's position and that his joking about the matter showed a lack of leadership.